2008 WI 55
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Supreme Court of |
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Case No.: |
2006AP1114-CR |
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Complete Title: |
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State of Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Michelle R. Popenhagen, Defendant-Respondent-Petitioner. |
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REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS 2007 WI App 16 298 (Ct. App. 2006-published) |
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Opinion Filed: |
June 4, 2008 |
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Submitted on Briefs: |
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Oral Argument: |
September 12, 2007
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Source of Appeal: |
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Court: |
Circuit |
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County: |
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Judge: |
Mark A. Mangerson
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Justices: |
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Concurred: |
PROSSER, J., concurs (opinion filed). |
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Concur & Dissent: |
ZIEGLER, J., concurs in part, dissents in part (opinion filed). |
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Dissented: |
ROGGENSACK, J., dissents (opinion filed). |
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Not Participating: |
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Attorneys: |
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For the defendant-respondent-petitioner there were briefs
by James B. Connell and Crooks,
For the plaintiff-appellant the cause was argued by James M. Freimuth, assistant attorney general, with whom on the brief was J.B. Van Hollen, attorney general.
2008 WI 55
notice
This opinion is subject to further editing and modification. The final version will appear in the bound volume of the official reports.
REVIEW of a decision of the Court of Appeals. Reversed and cause remanded.
¶1 SHIRLEY S. ABRAHAMSON, C.J. The defendant,
Michelle R. Popenhagen, seeks review of a published court of appeals decision
reversing an order of the Circuit Court for
¶2 In reversing the circuit court's order, the court of appeals concluded that the defendant cannot rely on the federal or state constitution for suppression and that Wis. Stat. § 968.135 does not expressly provide that a violation of the statute permits suppression as a remedy.
¶3 The issue on review is whether the circuit court erred in granting the defendant's motion to suppress both the bank documents and the defendant's incriminating statements. The defendant raises four arguments in support of the circuit court's order. The defendant contends (1) that police obtained her bank documents and incriminating statements in violation of her Fourth Amendment[3] right to privacy; (2) that police obtained her bank documents and incriminating statements in violation of her right to privacy under Article I, Section 11 of the Wisconsin Constitution;[4] (3) that the bank documents were obtained in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 and that suppression of both the bank documents and the defendant's incriminating statements is an appropriate remedy; and (4) that the circuit court possessed inherent authority to order suppression of the contested evidence obtained by the State's "misuse of process."
¶4 We conclude that suppression of both the bank documents and the defendant's incriminating statements in the present case is an appropriate remedy when the bank documents were obtained in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 and when the incriminating statements were obtained by law enforcement officers confronting the defendant with the unlawfully obtained bank documents. Accordingly, we conclude that the circuit court did not err as a matter of statutory interpretation in granting the defendant's motion to suppress the bank documents and the defendant's incriminating statements. We reverse the decision of the court of appeals and affirm the circuit court's order to suppress evidence of the bank documents and incriminating statements at issue.
¶5 The court of appeals addressed the constitutional issues. Because we affirm the circuit court's order on statutory grounds, we leave the interpretation of the federal and state constitutional provisions and federal statutes relating to the obligations of banks that the court of appeals addressed for another case in which these issues are determinative.
I
¶6 The relevant facts are not in dispute for purposes of this appeal. The defendant was an employee at Save More Foods, a grocery store in Minocqua. In August 2004, the owner of Save More Foods contacted the Minocqua Police Department and alleged that the defendant had improperly obtained money from the store. The owner specifically alleged that the defendant had cashed checks at the store drawn from accounts containing insufficient funds and further that the defendant had stolen money from the store's automated teller machine. According to the complaint and attached police report, the defendant allegedly stole approximately $29,000.
¶7 As part of the State's investigation, the district attorney's office sought three subpoenas before filing a complaint. Circuit Court Judges Kinney and Mangerson signed the subpoenas, ordering the banks to appear before the circuit court on a date and time certain and to bring Popenhagen's specified bank records or to mail the bank records to the Minocqua Police Department. Although an officer of the Minocqua Police Department apparently had filled out an affidavit, neither the police nor the Oneida County District Attorney's Office included any affidavit showing probable cause in the application to the circuit court for the subpoenas. The circuit court issued the subpoenas without recording a finding of probable cause.
¶8 A copy of each subpoena is attached hereto. Each subpoena states that it is issued pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 805.07. Section 805.07(1) states that "subpoenas shall be issued and served in accordance with ch. 885."[5] Wisconsin Stat. § 885.01 provides that any judge may sign and issue a subpoena to require the "attendance of witnesses and their production of lawful instruments of evidence in any action, matter or proceeding or to be examined into before any court, magistrate, officer . . . or other person authorized to take testimony in the state." Section 972.11(1) provides that the rules of practice in civil actions shall be applicable in all criminal proceedings unless the context of the section manifestly requires a different construction. Section 972.11 further provides that Chapter 885 "shall apply in all criminal proceedings."
¶9 Although the subpoenas on their face are in a form substantially
similar to the forms set forth in both §§ 805.07(4)
and 885.02, the subpoenas do not satisfy either Wis. Stat. § 885.01 or § 805.07. The subpoenas did not require the banks, in
the words of either statute, to attend an "action, matter or proceeding
pending or to be examined into before" the circuit court.[6] For an explanation of why these subpoenas do
not satisfy Wis. Stat. §§ 885.01
or 805.07, namely because no proceeding is pending, see State v.
Schaefer, 2008 WI 25, ¶44,
___ Wis. 2d ___, 746 N.W.2d 457, and Part A of the
concurring opinion, ¶¶102-125
(Abrahamson, C.J., concurring).
¶10 The
District Attorney apparently conceded in the circuit court that it used the
wrong form of subpoena.[7] Both the District Attorney and the defendant
agreed in the circuit court that the State should have followed, but did not
follow, Wis. Stat. § 968.135. The
District Attorney and the defendant disagreed in the circuit court whether
suppression is the appropriate remedy for the error. The circuit court suppressed the bank records
and incriminating statements under § 968.135.
¶11 In
the court of appeals the only statute the parties briefed relating to the
subpoenas was Wis. Stat. § 968.135.
The court of appeals ruled on § 968.135, declaring that suppression
was not available in the present case as a remedy for the violation of
§ 968.135.
¶12 The
defendant's petition for review in this court raised the following issue:
"Is suppression of evidence a remedy for violation of Sec. 968.135 which
requires probable cause for the issuance of a subpoena for documents?"[8] The only statute the defendant and the State
addressed in this court relating to the subpoenas was Wis. Stat.
§ 968.135.[9]
¶13 Having taken this case to address the issue whether the remedy of suppression is available when bank records were obtained by the district attorney with a subpoena that did not comply with the probable cause affidavit requirement of Wis. Stat. § 968.135, we address that issue.[10]
¶14
Subpoena for documents. Upon the request of the
attorney general or a district attorney and upon a showing of probable cause
under s. 968.12, a court shall issue a subpoena requiring the production of
documents, as specified in s. 968.13(2).
The documents shall be returnable to the court which issued the
subpoena. Motions to the court, including,
but not limited to, motions to quash or limit the subpoena, shall be addressed
to the court which issued the subpoena.
Any person who unlawfully refuses to produce the documents may be
compelled to do so as provided in ch. 785.
This section does not limit or affect any other subpoena authority
provided by law.
¶15 The
banks complied with their respective subpoenas, delivering bank statements,
deposit slips, and cancelled checks to the Minocqua Police Department. Having
obtained her bank documents, police officers interviewed the defendant,
confronting her with her bank documents.
The officers explained to the defendant that her bank deposits
corresponded in time and amount to money reported missing from Save More
Foods. At that point, the defendant made
several incriminating statements. No
transcript of the defendant's remarks is in the record; the remarks are
recounted in summary fashion in a police report that is in the record.
¶16 The defendant was charged with theft of more than $10,000 contrary to Wis. Stat. § 943.20(1)(b) and (3)(c). In a pretrial motion, the defendant moved to suppress both her bank documents and the statements she made after being confronted with those documents.
¶17 The circuit court granted the defendant's motion. The circuit court reasoned that the defendant had a right to privacy in her bank documents under the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 11 of the Wisconsin Constitution. The circuit court further reasoned that suppression is an appropriate remedy not only for the State's constitutional violations but also for the State's violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135.
¶18 The State appealed the circuit court's order, and a divided court of appeals reversed the order. The majority of the court of appeals held that the defendant had no right to privacy in her bank documents under either the United States or the Wisconsin Constitution and that suppression is not a proper remedy when evidence is obtained in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135.
¶19 The dissenting opinion concluded that Wis. Stat. § 968.135 establishes a person's reasonable expectation of privacy in bank documents in the context of criminal proceedings; that the State never explained its failure to comply with the statute and therefore committed a flagrant violation of the statute; and that the only appropriate remedy is the suppression of the bank documents and the tainted incriminating statements.
II
¶20 The
State contends that the circuit court erred in suppressing as evidence the bank
documents and the incriminating statements for the following reasons: (A) The defendant lacked standing to
challenge the subpoenas issued to her banks; (B) Suppression of the bank
documents is not an appropriate remedy for violation of Wis. Stat.
§ 968.135; and (C) Suppression of the defendant's incriminating statements
as evidence is not an appropriate remedy for violation of § 968.135 in
obtaining the subpoena for the bank statements.
We reject each of these arguments, concluding that the defendant had
standing to challenge the subpoenas issued to her banks and that suppression of
the bank documents and incriminating statements as evidence is an appropriate
remedy for violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135.
A
¶21 We
first consider whether the defendant had the requisite standing to challenge
the subpoenas issued to her banks under Wis. Stat. § 968.135.
¶22 The
State asserts that only the banks, as targets of the subpoenas, could move to
quash or limit the subpoenas for lack of probable cause, even though the
statute does not expressly limit the motions to those made by the target of the
subpoenas. The State further argues that
the legislative history of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 reflects a legislative
intent to expand the prosecutor's investigative authority to obtain information
by subpoena from third parties not suspected of criminal activity and that
giving standing to the person whose documents are being sought contravenes the
legislative purpose.
¶23 A
determination of standing presents a question of law that we decide
independently of the circuit court and court of appeals but benefiting from
their analyses.[11]
¶24 A
person has standing to seek judicial intervention when that person has "a
personal stake in the outcome"[12]
and is "directly affected by the issues in controversy."[13] Under
¶25 The
defendant meets the test for standing.
In requiring a showing of probable cause and a court order, Wis. Stat.
§ 968.135 protects the interests of persons whose documents are sought in
addition to protecting the interests of the person on whom a subpoena is
served. The statute prevents unwarranted
fishing expeditions.
¶26 The
State sought the defendant's bank documents in contemplation of charging the
defendant with a crime and using the bank documents against her. Clearly the defendant had a "personal
stake" in the question whether the State's subpoenas were valid; she would
be "directly affected" by the resolution of this question.
¶27 Furthermore,
although the State argues that only the person or institution who has been
subpoenaed to produce documents has standing to oppose a subpoena issued under
Wis. Stat. § 968.135, this position is belied by the language of the
statute itself. Section 968.135 provides
simply that subpoenas issued according to its provisions are subject to
"[m]otions to the court, including, but not limited to, motions to quash
or limit the subpoena." The statute
does not limit the persons who may bring such motions.
¶28 The
State's reliance on the legislative history to support its argument that the
defendant does not have standing is unpersuasive. We agree with the State that a note to an
early draft of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 acknowledges that the legislature
intended § 968.135 to give prosecutors new authority to conduct
investigations. Nevertheless, the
legislative history does not limit the persons who may make a motion under
§ 968.135.[15]
¶29 For
the reasons set forth, we conclude that the defendant has standing to challenge
subpoenas issued to the banks under Wis. Stat. § 968.135.
B
¶30 The
State concedes, and properly so, that contrary to the requirements of Wis.
Stat. § 968.135 no showing of probable cause was made to the circuit court
before the circuit court issued the subpoenas.
We must therefore consider whether suppression of the bank documents is
an appropriate remedy for the violation of § 968.135. The term "suppression" appears to
be employed ordinarily when evidence is inadmissible for having been unlawfully
obtained; the term "exclusion" ordinarily covers a violation of the
rules of evidence.[16] The terms, however, are often used
interchangeably inasmuch as suppression and exclusion have the same
effect: The evidence cannot be presented
in court.
¶31 In
the present case, the circuit court ordered suppression of the bank documents
on undisputed facts on the basis of Wis. Stat. § 968.135. The decision whether to suppress evidence,
when based on application of a constitutional provision to undisputed facts on
the record, is a question of law that we determine independently of the circuit
court and court of appeals but benefiting from their analyses.[17] The present case does not involve
constitutional interpretation.
¶32 Statutory
interpretation and application of a statute to undisputed facts are ordinarily
questions of law that this court decides independently of the circuit court and
court of appeals but benefiting from their analyses.[18] Accordingly,
we review the circuit court's decision to suppress evidence under Wis. Stat.
§ 968.135 independently of the circuit court and court of appeals but
benefiting from their analyses.
¶33 In
deciding to suppress the defendant's bank documents as evidence, the circuit
court reasoned that failure to suppress the bank documents would undermine the
statute:
If we would allow those documents to be subpoenaed, and tell the defendant she may have a personal right to sue the police department because they violated her rights, and then allowed the information that was illegally obtained in at the criminal trial, then we would emasculate the clear directives of 968.135 . . . .
¶34 The State contends that the circuit court erred as a matter of law in interpreting and applying Wis. Stat. § 968.135. The State asserts that § 968.135 does not permit a motion to suppress documents as a remedy for a violation of the statute. The State is correct that the statute is silent about the suppression of any evidence. The statute refers specifically only to quashing or limiting the subpoena; it makes no reference to suppressing or excluding evidence.
¶35 Statutory interpretation begins with the text of the statute. We also interpret statutory language in the context in which it is used and in light of the surrounding or closely related statutes. Statutes are interpreted to give effect to each word, to avoid surplusage, to fulfill the objectives of the statute, and to avoid absurd or unreasonable results.
¶36 Wisconsin Stat. § 968.135 provides in full:
Subpoena for documents. Upon the request of the attorney general or a district attorney and upon a showing of probable cause under s. 968.12, a court shall issue a subpoena requiring the production of documents, as specified in s. 968.13(2). The documents shall be returnable to the court which issued the subpoena. Motions to the court, including, but not limited to, motions to quash or limit the subpoena, shall be addressed to the court which issued the subpoena. Any person who unlawfully refuses to produce the documents may be compelled to do so as provided in ch. 785. This section does not limit or affect any other subpoena authority provided by law.
¶37 By its plain terms, Wis. Stat. § 968.135 provides that subpoenas issued under its terms may be reviewed by the circuit court upon "[m]otions to the court, including, but not limited to, motions to quash or limit the subpoena."
¶38 The question presented is the meaning of the statutory language "[m]otions to the court, including, but not limited to, motions to quash or limit the subpoena." More specifically, the question presented is: Does the class of motions that may be brought in response to a subpoena issued under Wis. Stat. § 968.135 include a motion to suppress documents obtained pursuant to a subpoena issued in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135? Although the answer to this question is not explicitly set forth in the statute, the answer is evident upon close examination of the text of the statute.
¶39 The word "motions" is used in Wis. Stat. § 968.135 along with the phrase "including but not limited to" and along with the specific enumeration of motions "to quash" and "to limit" the subpoena. These three aspects of the text must be examined.
¶40 The word "motion" is broadly defined in the statutes as an application for an order.[19] The motion to suppress evidence in the present case falls within the definition of the word "motion."
¶41 We next examine the words "motions to the court including but not limited to." In common parlance these words plainly provide that the two enumerated motions are not the only motions that may be brought in response to a subpoena issued under § 968.135. So too in legislative parlance, the phrase "including but not limited to" in a statute is generally given an expansive meaning, indicating that the words that follow the general phrase are but a part of the whole.[20] In contrast, had the statute provided that a motion under § 968.135 means a motion to quash or a motion to limit, the word "means" would ordinarily limit any motion to the two enumerated motions.[21]
¶42 We are thus led to the statutorily enumerated motions to quash or to limit. The question then becomes whether the enumeration of the two motions limits in some way other motions that may be brought under Wis. Stat. § 968.135. Three rules of statutory interpretation (sometimes called maxims or canons) assist us in answering this question. The canons are rules of statutory interpretation, not rules of law. Canons of statutory interpretation are aids to ascertaining the meaning of a statute. A canon is not a final or exclusive method of interpretation.[22]
¶43 One rule to be used in interpreting the word "includes" is that the word may be interpreted contrary to its ordinary, non-exclusive meaning. The word "includes" may therefore be read as a term of limitation or enumeration, so that a statute encompasses only those provisions or exceptions specifically listed. This court has, however, adopted this limited reading of "includes" only when there is some textual evidence that the legislature intended the word "includes" to be interpreted as a term of limitation or enumeration.[23]
¶44 This limited reading of the word "includes" is not applicable to the present case. The text of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 contains no indication that the legislature intended the word "includes" as a term of limitation or enumeration or that the word "motions" be limited in Wis. Stat. § 968.135 to the two enumerated motions. Nor is there any other evidence of such a legislative intent.
¶45 A second rule to be used in interpreting the word "includes" is to give the word its common, broad, non-exclusive meaning.[24] Applying this rule of interpretation we would conclude that the motion to suppress in the present case falls within Wis. Stat. § 968.135.
¶46 A third rule to be used in interpreting the word
"includes" is ejusdem generis, which literally means "of the same kind." This rule helps determine whether the
statutorily enumerated motions limit in some way the other motions that
may be brought under Wis. Stat. § 968.135. Ejusdem
generis applies
when a general word ("motions" in the present case) is used in a
statute and is either preceded or followed by specific words in a statutory
enumeration ("motions to quash or limit" a subpoena in the present
case).[25]
¶47 According to the rule of ejusdem generis, the general word is construed to embrace only items similar in nature to the enumerated items. Furthermore, for the rule to apply, the items to which the general word is restricted must be germane to the objectives of the enactment.[26]
¶48 Applying the ejusdem generis rule of statutory interpretation, we must determine whether a motion to suppress documents obtained through a subpoena issued in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 is similar in nature to the enumerated motions to quash or to limit the subpoena and is germane to the objectives of § 968.135. We must therefore compare motions to quash or limit a subpoena under Wis. Stat. § 968.135 with a motion to suppress documents obtained in violation of § 968.135.
¶49 A motion to quash or a motion to limit a subpoena is ordinarily made before the subpoena is complied with. The motion is aimed at preventing the State from obtaining all or some documents that the State may want to use as evidence. If the motion to quash the Wis. Stat. § 968.135 subpoena is granted, the State gets no documents. If a motion to limit a subpoena under § 968.135 is granted, the State may get only some documents. Each statutorily enumerated motion, if granted, prevents the State from obtaining and using as evidence all or some of the documents it seeks in a § 968.135 subpoena.
¶50 A motion to suppress documents obtained by a subpoena issued in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135, unlike a motion to quash or limit the subpoena, is ordinarily made after the subpoena is complied with. In the instant case, the defendant used the first opportunity available to her to challenge the validity of the subpoena and the State's right to use as evidence the documents received as a result of the unlawful subpoena. The defendant did not have the opportunity to bring a motion to quash or to limit the subpoena before the banks complied with the subpoenas; the defendant did not know that the subpoenas had been issued.
¶51 A motion to suppress documents obtained by a subpoena issued in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135, like a motion to quash or limit the subpoena, is aimed at preventing the State from using as evidence all or some of the documents the State has sought through the subpoena. If the motion to suppress is granted, the State would be prevented from using as evidence the documents obtained through the subpoena. A motion to suppress documents obtained by a subpoena issued in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 is thus similar in nature to the motions to quash or to limit the subpoena enumerated in § 968.135.
¶52 Furthermore, a motion to suppress documents obtained by a subpoena issued in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 is germane to the objectives of Wis. Stat. § 968.135, as are the motions to quash and to limit. The textually evident objectives of § 968.135 are to allow the State to acquire and use documents while also ensuring that the State meets statutory requirements that protect persons affected.
¶53 Wisconsin Stat. § 968.135 strictly limits a court's issuance of a subpoena for the production of documents. Only the attorney general or a district attorney may request a subpoena for the production of documents. The request must be ruled upon by the circuit court before the subpoena is issued. The circuit court may issue a subpoena for documents only upon a showing of probable cause. Motions to the circuit court to challenge the subpoena are expressly permitted by statute, including but not limited to motions to quash or to limit. The enumerated motions make clear that when the State fails to comply with § 968.135, the State's subpoena may be quashed or limited, removing the State's ability to obtain the documents and then use them in evidence.
¶54 A motion to suppress documents obtained by a subpoena issued in
violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 is germane to these objectives of § 968.135. If the defendant is not given an
opportunity to move to suppress the bank documents obtained by a subpoena
issued in violation of the probable cause requirements set forth in Wis. Stat.
§ 968.135, a court would, as the circuit court explained, "emasculate
the clear directives of § 968.135." If this court
allowed documents obtained by a subpoena not complying with the probable cause
requirement set forth in § 968.135 to be admitted in evidence, the
safeguards of § 968.135 would be meaningless. If Wis. Stat. § 968.135 is to effect
compliance with its requirements, we must interpret the statute as encompassing
a motion to suppress documents obtained in violation of the statute within the
word "motions" in the statute.
¶55 Applying the doctrine of ejusdem generis, we conclude that a motion to suppress documents obtained in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 is a motion of like kind to motions to quash or limit a subpoena and is germane to the objectives of § 968.135.
¶56 In applying each of the three rules for interpreting the word "includes" we have concluded that under each rule the defendant's motion to suppress the documents at issue in the present case was properly granted.
¶57 The State argues that our interpretation of Wis. Stat.
§ 968.135 is foreclosed by
¶58 The State relies on State ex rel. Arnold v. County Court of Rock County, 51 Wis. 2d 434, 439-40, 187 N.W.2d 354 (1971); State ex rel. Peckham v. Krenke, 229 Wis. 2d 778, 787, 601 N.W.2d 287 (Ct. App. 1999); and State v. Verkuylen, 120 Wis. 2d 59, 61, 352 N.W.2d 668 (Ct. App. 1984). These cases do not support the State's proposition of law, and therefore these cases are not precedent controlling the outcome of the instant case.
¶59 In
¶60 In the face of this statutory silence, the
¶61 This same reasoning applies in the present case. In the present case, as in
¶62 Thus Arnold, correctly read, stands for the proposition that
evidence obtained in violation of a statute (or not in accordance with the
statute) may be suppressed under the statute to achieve the objectives of the
statute, even though the statute does not expressly provide for the suppression
or exclusion of the evidence. This
correct reading of
¶63 As recently as State v. Raflik, 2001 WI 129, ¶15, 248 Wis. 2d 593, 636 N.W.2d 690, Arnold was
cited for the broad proposition that "[s]uppression is only required when
evidence has been obtained in violation of a defendant's constitutional rights . . . or if a statute
specifically provides for the suppression remedy." See also State v. Popenhagen, 2007 WI App 16, ¶25, 298
Wis. 2d 388, 728 N.W.2d 45 (quoting Raflik). Raflik involved a failure to record a
telephonic application for a search
warrant as required by statute. Raflik's
statement of suppression law may be interpreted in at least two ways:
Suppression of evidence obtained in violation of the requirements of a statute
is permissible at the discretion of the circuit court when a statute does not
specifically require suppression. Or, a
circuit court is prohibited from suppressing evidence obtained in violation of
the requirements of a statute when the statute does not expressly require
suppression. As the
¶64 In Peckham, another case upon which the State relies, the court's statement of suppression law is somewhat different from the court's statement of suppression law in Raflik. Peckham involved the Department of Corrections opening the mail of an inmate in violation of administrative rules. In Peckham, the court of appeals asserted that "wrongfully or illegally obtained evidence is to be suppressed only where the evidence was obtained in violation of an individual's constitutional rights or in violation of a statute that expressly requires suppression as a sanction."[31] Peckham's statement of suppression law explicitly prohibits a circuit court from suppressing evidence obtained in violation of a statute when the statute does not expressly require suppression.[32]
¶65 The Peckham court's statement of the law about violations of a statute and
suppression is too broad. The cases the Peckham
court cites to support this broad proposition of law merely cite to each
other. No case states a rationale for
the proposition of law.
¶66 Although
in Peckham the court of appeals announced a broad rule of law, in
examining the regulation at issue in the Peckham case, the court of
appeals properly applied a narrower rule of law consistent with Arnold
and the correct interpretation of Raflik, namely that the evidence
obtained in that case was admissible if it did not "violate any statute or
administrative rule that expressly or impliedly provided for the
exclusion of such evidence."[33] The word "impliedly" is the
operative word, and this sentence in Peckham comports with
¶67 In Verkuylen, a search warrant case upon which the State
relies, the court of appeals cited
¶68 Arnold, Raflik, Peckham, and Verkuylen, properly read, do not require the legislature expressly to require or allow suppression of unlawfully obtained evidence in order for a circuit court to grant a motion to suppress. In other words, the legislature need not express its intent to provide a remedy of exclusion or suppression of evidence with greater clarity than ordinarily required of any legislative enactment. The cases demonstrate that the circuit court has discretion to suppress or allow evidence obtained in violation of a statute that does not specifically require suppression of evidence obtained contrary to the statute, depending on the facts and circumstances of the case and the objectives of the statute.
¶69 The State cites a number of additional court of appeals cases for
the proposition of law that suppression is not a proper remedy for a statutory
violation. None of these cases is
apposite. The court in each case cited
by the State referred either to Verkuylen or to another case (1) for the
ambiguous proposition that suppression is required only when a statute
expressly requires suppression of the unlawfully obtained evidence;[36]
(2) for the erroneous proposition that suppression is barred except when a
statute expressly requires suppression;[37]
or (3) for the proposition that in a particular case suppression was not an
appropriate remedy.[38] Not one case in this interlocking web of
cases provides any reasoning in support of the proposition that a statute
provides for the remedy of suppression only when the statute
"expressly" provides for that remedy.
The proposition appears to originate solely in, and to rest solely upon,
a mistaken interpretation of
¶70 The proposition of law that wrongfully or illegally obtained evidence may not be suppressed except when the evidence was obtained in violation of an individual's constitutional rights or in violation of a statute that expressly requires suppression of evidence as a sanction has been carried expressly or impliedly from case to case without any support or reasoning. This proposition is an unsupported mistaken statement of the law. Mistaken statements of the law should not constitute precedent that binds this court.[39] We do more damage to the rule of law by refusing to admit error than by correcting an erroneous proposition of law.[40] The instant case presents an opportunity to correct an error of law that has been repeated in numerous cases, and we do so.
¶71 For the reasons set forth, we conclude that Wis. Stat. § 968.135 encompasses a motion to suppress documents in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 and that the statute thus provides a remedy of suppression. As we have explained, unless the documents were suppressed as evidence in the present case, the safeguards established by Wis. Stat. § 968.135 for the issuance of subpoenas would be rendered meaningless. Accordingly, we conclude that the circuit court did not err in ordering that the bank documents obtained in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 be suppressed.
C
¶72 We turn lastly to the question whether the circuit court erred as a matter of law in granting the defendant's motion to suppress the incriminating statements the defendant made after police confronted her with the bank documents obtained in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135.
¶73 The circuit court explained its decision to suppress the defendant's statements in addition to the bank documents as follows:
In regard to the statement of Ms. Popenhagen, I'm finding that the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine does apply here just as it would in a bad search, standard search case without a warrant.
¶74 The circuit court need not have reached beyond Wis. Stat. § 968.135 to justify suppressing the incriminating statements the defendant made after the police confronted the defendant with the unlawfully obtained bank documents.
¶75 The question whether Wis. Stat. § 968.135 permitted the defendant's motion to suppress the incriminating statements law enforcement officers obtained by confronting the defendant with the unlawfully obtained bank documents is, like the question of suppressing the bank documents considered above, a question of statutory interpretation that we decide independently of the circuit court and court of appeals but benefiting from their analyses.
¶76 We again apply the three rules to interpret the word "includes" in Wis. Stat. § 968.135 as it applies to the incriminating statements. We conclude that under each rule the defendant's motion to suppress incriminating statements that law enforcement officers obtained by confronting the defendant with the unlawfully obtained bank documents is encompassed within the class of motions contemplated by Wis. Stat. § 968.135. We reach this conclusion for essentially the same reasons that persuaded us that Wis. Stat. § 968.135 encompasses the defendant's motion to suppress the unlawfully obtained bank documents.
¶77 Under the first two rules of statutory interpretation of the word "includes," the motion to suppress the incriminating statements falls within Wis. Stat. § 968.135 for the reasons previously set forth.
¶78 Under the first rule of statutory interpretation applicable to the word "includes," the word "includes" is viewed narrowly and contrary to its ordinary, non-exclusive meaning only when there is some textual evidence that the legislature intended the word "includes" to be interpreted as a term of limitation or enumeration. We have already decided that no evidence of such a legislative intent exists and this reading of the word "includes" is not applicable to the present case. See ¶38 above.
¶79 Under the second rule of statutory interpretation applicable to the word "includes," the word "includes" is given its common, broad, non-exclusive meaning. Applying this rule of interpretation we would conclude that the motion to suppress the incriminating statements in the present case is encompassed within the class of motions contemplated by Wis. Stat. § 968.135.
¶80 Applying the rule of ejusdem generis to the defendant's motion to suppress the incriminating statements that law enforcement officers obtained by confronting the defendant with the unlawfully obtained bank records, we examine whether the motion at issue is similar in nature to the statutorily enumerated motions to quash or to limit the subpoena and is germane to the objectives of Wis. Stat. § 968.135. See ¶42, above.
¶81 The defendant's motion to suppress the incriminating statements in the present case is substantially similar in nature to a motion to quash the subpoena. Both motions prevent the State's using evidence derived from the subpoena. The documents are derived from the unlawful subpoena and the incriminating statements are derived from the documents derived from the unlawful subpoena.
¶82 Had the defendant been able to bring and prevail upon a motion to quash the subpoena obtained in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 before the banks turned over the documents demanded by the subpoena, the State would not have been in a position to present the bank documents to the defendant during questioning or to use them to induce incriminating statements.
¶83 We do not know whether the defendant would have made incriminating statements had she not been confronted with the unlawfully obtained bank documents.[41] We do know, however, from the record that the defendant made the incriminating statements when she was confronted with the unlawfully obtained bank documents and that the incriminating statements are therefore directly related to the unlawfully obtained bank documents.
¶84 We next examine whether the motion to suppress the incriminating statements that law enforcement officers obtained by use of a subpoena issued in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 is germane to the objectives of Wis. Stat. § 968.135. As we have explained, the objective of § 968.135 is to allow the State to acquire and use documents while also ensuring that the State meets statutory requirements that protect the privacy interests of persons affected by the subpoena. The objectives of § 968.135 are to limit strictly the conditions under which a subpoena may be obtained in order to protect persons whose records are being sought. The enumerated motions in § 968.135 make clear that when the State fails to comply with the statute's strict requirements, the State's subpoena may be quashed or limited, removing the State's ability to obtain the documents demanded in the subpoena and their use in evidence. See ¶¶46-47, above.
¶85 The defendant's motion to suppress the incriminating statements in the instant case serves these objectives. Suppressing incriminating statements derived directly from documents obtained in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 is necessary to protect a person fully from the State's acquiring documents without complying with the statute. Unless the defendant's motion to suppress incriminating statements that law enforcement officers obtained by use of documents obtained by the unlawful subpoena were granted, the safeguards of § 968.135 would not be given full force and effect and would be significantly compromised.
¶86 If a person were permitted to bring a motion to quash the subpoena for bank documents unlawfully obtained but not permitted to bring a motion to suppress incriminating statements derived directly from the unlawfully obtained bank documents, the person would not get the full benefit of the protections of the statute, and the underlying objectives of the statute would be defeated.
¶87 When the legislature allows a motion to quash or limit a subpoena to prevent the State from enforcing a subpoena issued in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135, it is absurd and unreasonable to allow the State to use incriminating statements derived directly from such a subpoena and to gain an advantage by violating the statute. The legislature could not have intended that the statute would be interpreted in such a way to allow circumvention of the carefully drafted legislative requirements and safeguards for the issuance of a subpoena under Wis. Stat. § 968.135.[42]
¶88 Applying the doctrine of ejusdem generis, we conclude that the motion to suppress these incriminating statements is a motion of like kind to motions to quash or limit a subpoena and is germane to the objectives of Wis. Stat. § 968.135.
¶89 In applying each of the three rules for interpreting the word "includes," we have concluded that under each rule of statutory interpretation, the defendant's motion to suppress the statements at issue in the present case was properly granted.
¶90 As we explained previously, this interpretation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 is not
foreclosed by
¶91 Our conclusion in the present case for suppression of both the documents and the incriminating statements is similar to the conclusions reached by the United States Supreme Court in two cases involving wiretaps that were performed in contravention of the applicable federal statute governing legal wiretaps.
¶92 In the first case, Nardone
v. United States,
302 U.S. 379 (1937), the United States Supreme Court interpreted the
Communications Act of 1934, which was silent about the Act's application to
federal agents and which did not explicitly provide for suppression as evidence
of any communications obtained in violation of the Act. The Court interpreted the Act as covering
agents of the federal government and as embracing suppression of evidence in
court of the words obtained through the unlawful wiretaps.
¶93 In
a subsequent case, Nardone v. United States, 308 U.S. 338, 340 (1939),
the Court was faced with the question whether under the Communications Act of
1934 only the "exact words heard through forbidden interceptions"
were to be suppressed as evidence (as decided in the first Nardone
case), or whether evidence procured through the use of knowledge gained from
the forbidden conversations should also be suppressed. The Court concluded that in accommodating the
concerns of crime detection and effective law enforcement and protection of individual
privacy, "meaning must be given to what Congress has written, even if not
in explicit language, so as to effectuate the policy which Congress has
formulated."[43] The Court concluded that reading the Act to
suppress only the exact words heard through the forbidden interceptions but at
the same time to allow the use of evidence derived from the exact words
intercepted would largely stultify the policy of suppressing the exact words
intercepted. The Court relied on the
words of Silverthorne Lumber Co. v. United States, 251 U.S. 385,
392: "The essence of a provision
forbidding the acquisition of evidence in a certain way is that not merely
evidence so acquired shall not be used before the court, but that it shall not
be used at all."[44] The Court went on to say: "A decent
respect for the policy of Congress must save us from imputing to it a
self-defeating, if not disingenuous purpose."[45]
¶94 In the Nardone cases, as well as in the present case, the law being interpreted is silent about suppression of evidence obtained as a result of a statutory violation. In the first Nardone case, the Court suppressed the words obtained by wiretaps that violated of the Act. In the present case we suppress the documents obtained by subpoenas that violated the statute. In the second Nardone case, the Court suppressed information obtained by use of the words obtained by the improper wiretaps. In the present case we suppress incriminating statements obtained by use of the documents obtained by improper subpoenas.
¶95 The Nardone cases support our approach to statutory interpretation in the present case. The instant case, however, presents an easier task of statutory interpretation than did the Nardone cases. In the instant case the motions to suppress the documents and the incriminating statements are in the very text of the statute, that is, the text explicitly provides for "motions to the court, including, but not limited to, motions to quash or limit the subpoena." The Act interpreted in the Nardone cases had no such similar broadly worded language allowing a motion to suppress evidence.
¶96 For the reasons set forth, we conclude that the circuit court did not err in suppressing the incriminating statements that the defendant made after police confronted her with the bank documents obtained in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135. Unless the incriminating statements were suppressed as evidence in the present case, the safeguards established by Wis. Stat. § 968.135 for the issuance of subpoenas would be rendered meaningless.
* * * *
¶97 We conclude that suppression of both the bank documents and the defendant's incriminating statements in the present case is an appropriate remedy when the bank documents were obtained in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 and the incriminating statements were obtained by law enforcement officers confronting the defendant with the unlawfully obtained bank documents. Accordingly, we conclude that the circuit court did not err in granting the defendant's motion to suppress evidence of the bank documents and the defendant's incriminating statements. We reverse the decision of the court of appeals and affirm the circuit court's order to suppress the bank documents and incriminating statements at issue. Because we affirm the circuit court's order on statutory grounds, we need not and do not reach the additional issues presented by the defendant. We leave the interpretation of the federal and state constitutional provisions and federal statutes relating to obligations of banks that the court of appeals addressed for another case in which these issues are determinative.
By the Court.—The
decision of the court of appeals is reversed.
The cause is remanded to the circuit court for further proceedings not
inconsistent with this opinion.
¶98 DAVID T. PROSSER, J. (concurring). The State obtained the bank records of
Michelle Popenhagen from local banks after it issued three subpoenas duces
tecum, each of which was signed by an
¶99 I concur in this result. However, because I share some of the concerns voiced in Justice Roggensack's dissenting opinion, I write separately to explain my position.
I
¶100 The owners of Save More Foods in Minocqua terminated Michelle Popenhagen, a longtime employee who worked as their bookkeeper, because they detected financial irregularities at the store. Several weeks later, the owners complained to the Minocqua Police Department that they believed Popenhagen had embezzled a substantial amount of money. In the subsequent investigation, Todd Hanson, a detective with the Minocqua Police Department, "filled out an affidavit" for the Oneida County District Attorney to support subpoenas to local banks to obtain Popenhagen's bank records. In a police report, Hanson stated that he faxed a request for subpoenas "to the Oneida DA on 8/16/04 @ 3:00 p.m."
¶101 The district attorney's office then prepared three subpoenas, two dated August 18, 2004, and one dated August 31, 2004, to three different banks.
¶102 All three subpoenas contain the following language in bold type:
"PURSUANT TO SECTION 805.07 OF THE WISCONSIN STATUTES, YOU ARE HEREBY
COMMANDED TO APPEAR IN PERSON AND GIVE EVIDENCE". All three subpoenas give a date and time to
appear in circuit court. Two of the
subpoenas also state: "In lieu of appearing, copies may be mailed to
Sergeant Todd Hanson of the Minocqua Police Department,
¶103 All three subpoenas were served personally on the banks by Todd Hanson. Thereafter, the banks did not appear in court; instead, they turned over the records to the Minocqua Police Department.
¶104 As noted, the subpoenas were issued pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 805.07. Wisconsin Stat. § 805.07 reads in part as follows:
Subpoena. (1) Issuance and service. Subpoenas shall be issued and served in accordance with ch. 885. A subpoena may also be issued by any attorney of record in a civil action or special proceeding to compel attendance of witnesses for deposition, hearing or trial in the action or special proceeding.
(2) Subpoena requiring the production of material. (a) A subpoena may command the person to whom it is directed to produce the books, papers, documents or tangible things designated therein.
(b) Notice of a 3rd-party subpoena issued for discovery purposes shall be provided to all parties at least 10 days before the scheduled deposition in order to preserve their right to object. If a 3rd-party subpoena requests the production of books, papers, documents, or tangible things that are within the scope of discovery under s. 804.01(2)(a), those objects shall not be provided before the time and date specified in the subpoena. The provisions under this paragraph apply unless all of the parties otherwise agree.
(3) Protective orders. Upon motion made promptly and in any event at or before the time specified in the subpoena for compliance therewith, the court may (a) quash or modify the subpoena if it is unreasonable and oppressive or (b) condition denial of the motion upon the advancement by the person in whose behalf the subpoena is issued of the reasonable cost of producing the books, papers, documents, or tangible things designated therein. (Emphasis added.)
¶105 Wisconsin Stat. § 805.07(1) refers to "ch. 885." Wisconsin Stat. § 885.01 reads in part:
Subpoenas, who may issue. The subpoena need not be sealed, and may be signed and issued as follows:
(1) By any judge or clerk of a court or court commissioner or municipal judge, within the territory in which the officer or the court of which he or she is the officer has jurisdiction, to require the attendance of witnesses and their production of lawful instruments of evidence in any action, matter or proceeding pending or to be examined into before any court, magistrate, officer, arbitrator, board, committee or other person authorized to take testimony in the state.
(2) By the attorney general or any district attorney or person acting in his or her stead, to require the attendance of witnesses, in behalf of the state, in any court or before any magistrate and from any part of the state. (Emphasis added.)
¶106 The
record shows that the district attorney's office executed three subpoenas
pursuant to Wis. Stat. §§ 805.07 and 885.01(1). Each subpoena was signed by a judge. Subpoenas issued under these statutes had to
be signed by a judge or clerk because there was never "a civil
action" in which a subpoena could have been issued by an attorney of
record (Wis. Stat. § 805.07(1)) and because the district attorney was
seeking "lawful instruments of evidence" (documents), not merely the
"attendance" of a witness at a hearing (Wis. Stat. § 885.01(2)). Nonetheless, the district attorney's office
used the wrong subpoena forms and followed the wrong procedure, inasmuch as no
legal action of any kind was pending when the subpoenas were issued. Moreover, the notice that Wis. Stat.
§ 805.07(2)(b) requires be given to a "party" concerning a
"3rd-party subpoena issued for discovery purposes" was not given to
Popenhagen. In addition, Popenhagen
alleged that the district attorney's office never asked the court to schedule return
dates in court because the district attorney never wanted or expected witnesses
to appear in court. The stated return
dates were fictitious, and the objects of the subpoena were not brought to
court.
¶107 In
sum, the three subpoenas were defective in every respect. The circuit court was not powerless to
address defective subpoenas issued pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 805.07. The court's authority to quash subpoenas is
explicitly provided in Wis. Stat. § 805.07(3).
¶108 Probable cause is not required for a subpoena issued pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 805.07. The reason is that § 805.07 is designed to secure the presence of a witness in a pending action, and the statute permits a "party" in that action to seek a protective order if the subpoena is unreasonable and oppressive.
¶109 Here, of course, there was no pending action and thus no opposing "party" to serve with notice. The district attorney erred. Even if the district attorney's office could concoct some argument for using subpoenas under § 805.07, it failed to comply with the terms of that statute. A circuit court cannot be denied the power to remedy an obvious and undisputed misuse of its judicial authority by the district attorney.
II
¶110 The parties now appear to agree that the State should have sought subpoenas under Wis. Stat. § 968.135, not § 805.07. Wisconsin Stat. § 968.135 reads as follows:
Subpoena for documents. Upon the request of the attorney general or a district attorney and upon a showing of probable cause under s. 968.12, a court shall issue a subpoena requiring the production of documents, as specified in s. 968.13(2). The documents shall be returnable to the court which issued the subpoena. Motions to the court, including, but not limited to, motions to quash or limit the subpoena, shall be addressed to the court which issued the subpoena. Any person who unlawfully refuses to produce the documents may be compelled to do so as provided in ch. 785. This section does not limit or affect any other subpoena authority provided by law. (Emphasis added.)
¶111 To obtain subpoenas under this statute, a district attorney is required to provide the court with "probable cause under s. 968.12," meaning that a district attorney is required to proceed as though he were requesting a search warrant under Wis. Stat. § 968.12.[46]
¶112 The Oneida County District Attorney could have provided the
court with a sworn complaint or affidavit, or sworn recorded testimony, showing
probable cause.
¶113
¶114 Judge Mangerson stated that a subpoena under Wis. Stat. § 968.135 "is
directly analogous to a search warrant."
He understood——and
I agree——that the remedy for a defective subpoena
under this statute is analogous to the remedy for a defective search warrant
under Wis. Stat. § 968.12. That is
why I support the court's decision to exclude the specific documents obtained
from the three subpoenas and the statements Popenhagen made after she was
confronted with these improperly obtained documents.
¶115 The
State is not entitled to utilize incriminating statements obtained from
Popenhagen after she was confronted with her bank records simply because it
completely disregarded the applicable statute (§ 968.135) to obtain those
bank records.
III
¶116 This brings us to the question of what authority should be employed
to suppress Popenhagen's statements without altering longstanding
¶117 In
State v. Raflik, 2001 WI 129, 248
The suppression of evidence is
not a constitutional right, but rather it is a judge-made rule used to deter
misconduct by law enforcement officials.
Stone v. Powell, 428
¶118 The Raflik court went on to explain that there is no specific
statutory remedy provided for the failure to record a telephonic search warrant
application under Wis. Stat. § 968.12.
¶119 In my view, a violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.12 procedure permits but does not require the remedy of suppression in situations where an error by the state does not violate a constitutional right. The decision whether to suppress evidence is informed by Wis. Stat. § 968.22, which reads: "Effect of technical irregularities. No evidence seized under a search warrant shall be suppressed because of technical irregularities not affecting the substantial rights of the defendant."
¶120
¶121 This view is supported by the cases.
In State v. Tye, 2001 WI 124, 248
¶122 A different kind of defect was noted in State v. Meier, 60
¶123 This theme was echoed in State v. Elam, 68
¶124 In State v. Nicholson, 174
¶125 In the Raflik case, where the government mistakenly failed to
record the application for a warrant by telephone, the circuit court did not
suppress the evidence because the search warrant was grounded in probable
cause, and the search was not unreasonable because the court promptly took
steps to reconstruct the application. Raflik,
248
¶126 These cases, together with Wis. Stat. § 968.22, suggest that evidence must not be
suppressed for a mere statutory violation or a technical irregularity of search
warrant procedure unless the violation or irregularity is material or
the violation or irregularity has prejudiced the defendant or affected the
defendant's substantial rights.
Conversely, if a statutory violation or statutory irregularity of search
warrant procedure is material or if the violation or irregularity has
prejudiced the defendant or affected the defendant's substantial rights, the
court has implicit, if not explicit, statutory authority to suppress the
tainted evidence.
¶127 Suppression of evidence is a drastic remedy. Suppression is required when evidence
has been obtained in violation of a defendant's constitutional
rights. Raflik, 248
¶128 In
evaluating statutory irregularity with respect to a search warrant or a Wis.
Stat. § 968.135 subpoena, the court should weigh the gravity of the statutory
violation against the strong public interest in the availability of reliable
evidence. See, e.g., Brewer
v. Williams, 430
¶129 In
this case, the State's misuse of the subpoena statutes was serious and
material, not technical. The State used
the wrong subpoena forms, pursuant to the wrong statute (Wis. Stat.
§ 805.07), and it failed to accord the protections required by that wrong
statute. It could not bootstrap its
position by trying to bring the subpoenas under the applicable subpoena statute
(Wis. Stat. § 968.135) because it totally disregarded the procedures and
protections in that statute. In
addition, the defendant was prejudiced by the State's errors when she blurted
out incriminating statements after being confronted with her improperly
obtained bank records. Finally, the
court's authority was abused. In this
case, then, suppression of Popenhagen's statements is a sanction for the
improper use of the subpoena power by the district attorney's office.
IV
¶130 The last sentence of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 should not be
overlooked. It reads: "This section
does not limit or affect any other subpoena authority provided by law."
¶131 In my view, the State is entitled to use Wis. Stat. § 885.01 for subpoenas duces tecum of bank records at Popenhagen's trial. Popenhagen's bank records are business records. These records can be obtained from the banks by following proper procedure. The owners of Save More Foods and their insurer could also obtain Popenhagen's bank records if they sued her to recover their damages. In short, excluding the defendant's statements will not permit the defendant to escape unscathed.
V
¶132 The circuit court's suppression of Popenhagen's bank records and incriminating statements was appropriate. The State used the wrong subpoena forms and followed the wrong procedure. As a result, its subpoenas were defective. However, the State's subpoena access to these records is not limited to access under Wis. Stat. § 968.135. The State is entitled to use Wis. Stat. § 885.01(1) after it has filed a criminal charge. The State can do over the subpoenas of the bank records. It cannot do over its blunders in obtaining Popenhagen's statements. Accordingly, I respectfully concur.
¶133 ANNETTE KINGSLAND ZIEGLER, J. (concurring in
part, dissenting in part). The
majority decision, which suppresses both the documents and the statements,
proceeds much further than necessary. I agree that the circuit court has authority
to preclude the documents and to require the State to go through the correct
process to obtain them for future use. However, I disagree with doing so on a
statutory or constitutional basis. If
there is such authority to preclude the documents, it lies in the court's
inherent authority to administer justice.
Under the facts presented, however, no authority exists for suppressing
the statements.
¶134 The majority finds that the statutory language calls for suppression as a remedy. If the language of this statute provides for suppression, then almost any statute from this point forward does so as well. That has never been the law. Moreover, no authority exists for going even further and suppressing the statements based on the statute, the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine, or otherwise. This is a good example of bad facts making bad law.
¶135 The law is well established that unless the statute provides for suppression or unless constitutional protections exist, suppression is not a remedy. The majority decision extends the law to unworkable standards and leaves a black hole with respect to the suppression of evidence. Suppression law is no longer linked to the language of the statute, nor is it tethered to a constitutional right. No longer is there any stopping point to suppression. As a result, I cannot join the majority and, instead, must concur in part and dissent in part.
¶136 Under the unique facts of this case, the circuit court should have the authority to preclude the documents because the subpoena at issue was fatally defective: (1) the district attorney used the wrong subpoena (a civil subpoena was used by the district attorney in a criminal investigation); (2) the district attorney had no authority to obtain documents by using the civil statutes; while there is no record that this was done in bad faith, using the wrong subpoena and civil procedure were more than a scriveners' error; (3) although the record reflects that the investigating officer faxed a probable cause affidavit to the district attorney, nothing suggests that a probable cause affidavit was submitted to the court, and no such document is in the record; (4) nothing suggests that a probable cause determination was made by any judicial officer;[47] (5) the documents sought were not returned through the circuit court but instead were returned directly to the State; and (6) all safeguards at the circuit court failed.
I.
SUBPOENA POWER IN
¶137 In short, the State had no authority to obtain the documents by using purely a civil subpoena process in a criminal investigation. When a court realizes that it issued a subpoena without any authority, it can and should quash the subpoena under its own authority in the administration of justice.[48] So long as there is no bad faith, the court may then require the State to use the correct process to obtain the records by subpoena. From this record, there is no bad faith by any person. The State made mistakes in obtaining the subpoena, and the court made mistakes in signing the subpoena under the wrong authority and without a probable cause affidavit.
¶138 The State utilized a civil subpoena statute, Wis. Stat. § 805.07, to subpoena the defendant's bank records. Nowhere in the subpoena does the State cite the criminal statute. The State may not circumvent the criminal process by using civil subpoena statutes.[49] The criminal law has its own subpoena statutes, which the State was required to use.
¶139 The Wisconsin criminal code specifically provides that chapter 885,
Witnesses and Oral Testimony, "shall apply in all criminal
proceedings."
¶140 The district attorney possesses additional subpoena power by virtue
of Wis. Stat. § 968.135.[51] This subpoena power is meant to enhance the
investigative powers of law enforcement.
It can be used before a crime is even charged and no scheduled hearing
is required. However, because § 968.135 bestows upon the
State great power, certain safeguards apply such as a court finding probable
cause, documents being returned to the court, and providing the circuit court
the power to completely quash or limit the subpoena.
¶141 The
State, in this case, should have used Wis. Stat. § 968.135 rather than
Wis. Stat. § 805.07——a civil subpoena statute meant for civil litigants.[52] Because the State should have used
II. DEFECTIVE SUBPOENA
¶142 The State's subpoena was fatally defective. Absolutely nothing was done correctly with respect to this subpoena. The district attorney had no authority to request it, and the judge should not have signed it. If there is a remedy for this unusual statutory violation, it lies in the court's inherent authority to administer justice since the legislature did not provide for suppression as a remedy in the statute and the violation did not invoke constitutional protections. The proper remedy in a case like this, where no bad faith exists, is to permit the judge——when the error is discovered——to quash the subpoena and require the State to subsequently seek the documents through a properly enforced subpoena. In finding that Wis. Stat. § 968.135 calls for suppression of the documents——and ultimately the statements——the majority weaves a remedy that unravels years of precedent.[53]
¶143 A circuit court judge has the authority to quash a subpoena that is defective.[54] In this case, the defective subpoena was in part due to the circuit court's own errors. It is nonsensical to not allow a circuit court judge to remedy such a procedural error. It is unnecessary to undertake the majority's analysis. In this case, the subpoena was fatally defective in a number of ways. The State may never utilize civil subpoena statutes for a criminal investigation. Probable cause is always required when utilizing criminal investigative subpoenas. There is a procedure for which evidence is returned to the circuit court. It is logical that a circuit court should be able to use inherent authority to right such a wrong and require the State to obtain the documents through the proper means. Once the subpoena is quashed, and if no bad faith exists, the State may seek the same documents through a proper subpoena.
¶144 The majority eliminates longstanding precedent that suppression is required only if the statute specifically provides for suppression. Majority op., ¶¶57-71. The majority questions whether any justification exists for such a rule. Majority op., ¶70. We, however, need not look any further than well respected and accepted principles of statutory construction and interpretation for justification. When the legislature intends to provide suppression for a statutory remedy, it specifically does so,[55] and if it does not, this court should not insert words into the statute.[56] Rather, when no suppression remedy exists in the statute, a statutory violation——and thus most likely a procedural violation——should be corrected by ordering the violator to repeat the process or procedure in a manner that complies with the statute. Suppression is appropriate for constitutional violations, which by their very nature are serious violations, and suppression is appropriate when the legislature deems a statutory violation so significant that permanent exclusion is appropriate.
¶145 Here, the majority is making new law. No case has ever suppressed evidence without specific statutory authority unless there has been a constitutional violation. With this new basis for suppression, is there any stopping point? Is anything attenuated? If something is suppressed in a case, does that now mean that anything obtained thereafter is suppressed? If not, why not? What is the standard? For example, if law enforcement obtains a lead in an investigation and that evidence is later found to be inadmissible, is all evidence obtained thereafter suppressed because officers built a case based upon various leads? Is law enforcement now required to obtain an independent basis for the admission of each piece of evidence for fear that something earlier may be suppressed?
¶146 In order to suppress the documents, the majority decides that suppression is allowed under Wis. Stat. § 968.135. However, § 968.135 was never utilized by the State to subpoena the documents or by the court that issued the subpoena. From the record, the State and the court relied solely on the civil statute and procedure to subpoena the documents——Wis. Stat. § 805.07. Instead of deciding the case on the basis that there exists no authority to so subpoena the documents civilly, the majority contorts this into a criminal subpoena. It is not. The subpoena was fatally defective.
III. FRUIT OF THE POISONOUS TREE DOCTRINE
¶147 The majority takes the extra step of suppressing the statements that were obtained when the defendant was subsequently shown the bank documents. While the majority frames its analysis under the auspices of statutory authority, it really does so by an unprecedented application of the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine. In so doing, the majority undermines longstanding case law. There is no legal support for the proposition that the court can suppress the statements as fruit of the poisonous tree or, as the majority has now done, under the language of the statute. The statute at issue does not list suppression as a remedy and the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine has never been extended to a statutory violation. Unlike using its inherent authority in the administration of justice to quash the improperly issued subpoena, the court's inherent authority does not extend to suppressing the attenuated statements, especially where there is no bad faith. In order to suppress the statements there must be authority in the statute or in constitutional law. No such authority exists here.
¶148 We have no reason to believe that law enforcement acted in bad faith to obtain the documents. There is no reason to believe that law enforcement used the documents in bad faith. The majority suppresses the statements by finding that there was a statutory violation in obtaining the documents in the first instance; it then suppresses the "fruit" of the "poisonous tree"——the statements derived from the use of those documents.
¶149 The fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine has never been applied to suppress statements elicited by virtue of a defendant being shown documents obtained from a faulty civil subpoena. This doctrine applies to constitutional violations, and no constitutional violation has occurred in this case.
It is true that evidence obtained as a direct result of a violation of a constitutional right is inadmissible and the exclusionary rule applies to intangible evidence as well as tangible evidence, such as statements following an unlawful arrest or entry. Not only evidence obtained by the primary illegality is inadmissible but also derivative evidence if such evidence is obtained 'by exploitation of that illegality.'
State v. Schneidewind,
47
¶150 Suppression of derivative evidence does not occur every time a procedural mishap occurs with the subpoena process. In this case, there is no showing of bad faith on the part of law enforcement. The majority fails to provide any direction to our circuit courts, district attorneys, defense lawyers, and law enforcement with regard to when a circuit court judge must "suppress" derivative evidence or when it simply can quash a subpoena that was issued without authority and order compliance with the statute at issue. Surely not all procedural violations demand such drastic measures as the court prescribes in this case.
IV. CONCLUSION
¶151 The majority, instead of directly deciding the issue at hand, proceeds down a path of "correcting" law that does not need correction. At the fault of both the State and the circuit court, a fatally defective subpoena was issued. The State had no authority to use the subpoena, and the court had no authority to issue the requested subpoena. This case does not call upon us to decide whether our current case law needs any clarification or changing with regard to when suppression is permitted. Because of the majority's decision, the law has been contorted to fit an outcome. Longstanding precedent is called into question. Courts and law enforcement are left with uncertainty.
¶152 The proper remedy in a case such as this is to permit the judge——when the error is discovered——to quash the subpoena and require the State to subsequently seek the documents through a properly enforced subpoena. The State should be able to reissue the subpoena and obtain the documents lawfully, but the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine should not be applied under the guise of statutory interpretation in order to suppress the statements. In giving proper respect to precedent, there is no other authority upon which the documents can be suppressed. There is no authority to suppress the statements.
¶153 While the circuit court did not invoke its inherent authority in the case at hand because it had improperly suppressed based upon a constitutional expectation of privacy in bank records, we should remand to the circuit court with instructions that no such expectation of privacy exists[58] and the proper remedy can be found under its inherent authority as articulated throughout this opinion.
¶154 For the foregoing reasons, I concur in part and dissent in part.
¶155 PATIENCE DRAKE ROGGENSACK, J. (dissenting). We are asked to review a
court of appeals decision reversing the circuit court's order (1) suppressing
bank records that were subpoenaed and produced without a finding of probable
cause, which Wis. Stat. § 968.135 (2005-06)[59]
requires, and (2) suppressing Michelle Popenhagen's subsequent incriminating
statements.
¶156 I
dissent from the majority opinion because I conclude that controlling
precedent, as established more than 20 years ago by the appellate courts of
this state, precludes suppressing Popenhagen's bank records and her subsequent
incriminating statements. I reach this
conclusion because: (1) Wis. Stat.
§ 968.135 does not authorize the suppression of Popenhagen's bank records
as a remedy for the circuit court's failure to find probable cause that the
bank records were linked to the commission of a crime; and (2) Popenhagen has
no privacy right in her bank records under either the Fourth Amendment of the
United States Constitution or Article I, Section 11 of the Wisconsin
Constitution. Accordingly, I would
affirm the court of appeals decision that overturned the circuit court's suppression
of evidence, and I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion that upholds
suppression of Popenhagen's bank records and her subsequent incriminating
statements.
I. BACKGROUND
¶157 While Popenhagen was an
employee of Save-More Foods in Minocqua, the owner, Brian Krueger, suspected
that she was stealing from the store.
Krueger reported to the Minocqua Police Department that Popenhagen
cashed checks at the store that she drew on accounts containing insufficient
funds. Krueger also alleged that
Popenhagen had stolen money from the store's automated teller machine. According to the criminal complaint and the
attached police reports, it is alleged that Popenhagen stole approximately
$29,000 from her employer.
¶158 To further their
investigation of the matter, the Minocqua Police sought to obtain Popenhagen's
bank records through criminal subpoenas under Wis. Stat. § 968.135. To that end, in compliance with
§ 968.135, a police officer completed an affidavit showing probable cause
that the records sought were linked to the commission of a crime. However, when the requests for the subpoenas
were made, the affidavit showing probable cause apparently was not presented to
the two judges who issued the subpoenas.[60]
¶159 All three banks complied
with the subpoenas by delivering Popenhagen's bank statements, deposit slips
and cancelled checks to the Oneida Police Department.
¶160 Popenhagen was charged
with theft of more than $10,000, contrary to Wis. Stat. § 943.20(1)(b) and
(3)(c). In a pretrial motion, she moved
to suppress both her bank records and her incriminating statements. The circuit court granted her motion to
suppress, ruling that the State obtained her bank records in violation of
Popenhagen's federal and state constitutional right of privacy and in violation
of Wis. Stat. § 968.135.
¶161 The State appealed the
circuit court's decision, and in a two-to-one decision, the court of appeals
reversed. The majority concluded that
neither the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution nor Article I,
Section 11 of the Wisconsin Constitution accorded Popenhagen a right of privacy
in her bank records; and therefore, it was error to suppress them. In addition, although the issuance of
subpoenas without a finding of probable cause conflicts with the provisions of
Wis. Stat. § 968.135, the court of appeals ruled that suppression was not
proper because § 968.135 does not authorize suppression as a remedy, as
¶162 On review before this
court, Popenhagen advances four arguments to support her assertion that her
bank records and her incriminating statements must be suppressed. First, Popenhagen argues that because Wis.
Stat. § 968.135 requires a finding of probable cause before a subpoena is
issued thereunder, she has a statutory "expectation of privacy" in
her bank records which was violated when these subpoenas were issued. Second, Popenhagen contends that the issuance
of the subpoenas without a finding of probable cause is a misuse of process
that necessitates suppressing her bank records and incriminating statements. Third, she contends that she has a Fourth
Amendment right of privacy in her bank records because the holding of United
States v. Miller, 425 U.S. 435 (1976), is no longer good law. Fourth, she encourages this court to
interpret Article I, Section 11 of the Wisconsin Constitution independently of
Fourth Amendment interpretations, and to hold that there is a constitutional
right of privacy in bank records under the Wisconsin Constitution. The majority opinion reverses the court of
appeals and upholds the suppression of evidence based on Popenhagen's first
contention.[62]
II. DISCUSSION
A. Standard
of Review
¶163 Resolution of this case requires the court to
interpret Wis. Stat. § 968.135, as well as the federal and state
constitutions. We independently review
questions of statutory interpretation. State
v. Fisher, 2006 WI 44, ¶4, 290
B.
1. Suppression precedent
¶164 Judges formulated the discretionary
remedy of suppression to deter unreasonable or bad-faith police conduct that
resulted in the violation of a defendant's constitutional rights. Stone v. Powell, 428
¶165 The majority opinion concludes that
Popenhagen is entitled to suppression of the bank records and her subsequent
incriminating statements under Wis. Stat. § 968.135, even though there was
no unreasonable or bad-faith police conduct and even though § 968.135 does
not expressly authorize the remedy of suppression when a subpoena was issued
without a finding of probable cause.[63] In so concluding, the majority opinion
effects an enormous change in the law of the state of
¶166 State ex rel.
¶167
¶168 Essential to a full understanding of
¶169 However, as we relayed in Arnold, the Electronic Surveillance
Control Law also provides that not all evidence that has been lawfully obtained
by eavesdropping interceptions can be disclosed after it has been
obtained. Arnold, 51
¶170 Even though the evidence at issue in
¶171 Because the evidence at issue in
¶172 Therefore,
the majority opinion is revising history when it says that "in
¶173 Consequently, Raflik correctly cited
¶174 The majority
opinion errs in its use of
¶175 Therefore, in order for the decision in this case to be consistent
with 20 years of prior precedent, including Arnold, Wis. Stat.
§ 968.135 must expressly authorize suppression of evidence obtained
without a finding of probable cause. Raflik,
248
¶176 The majority opinion affirms the suppression of two types of evidence: the bank records and Popenhagen's incriminating statements. I begin with a discussion of the bank records.
2. Bank records
¶177 In deciding to exclude Popenhagen's bank records, the circuit court reasoned:
But it is clear to me that there is now a Federally– and Wisconsin–recognized right to privacy in one's personal banking records. And I'm convinced that, obtaining those records over which there is an umbrella of privacy by violating 968.135 of the statutes, should result in suppression.
We will not disturb an evidentiary
ruling that suppresses evidence if the record shows that the circuit court, in
making its ruling, exercised its discretion in accord with the correct legal
standards and the facts of record. State
v. Clark, 179
¶178 Furthermore, courts do not necessarily suppress evidence that is
obtained in violation of a statute that provides for suppression as a
remedy. State v. House, 2007 WI
79, ¶38, 302
Wis. 2d 1, 734 N.W.2d 140 (concluding
that even though Wis. Stat. § 968.30(9)(a) specifically authorizes
suppression as a remedy for violating the Electronic Surveillance Control Law,
whether a violation "requires suppression depends upon whether the
statutory purpose has been achieved despite the violation"); Arthur
Best, Wigmore on Evidence § 2183a
(2007-2 Cumulative Supp. 2008) (concluding that not all illegally obtained
evidence should be suppressed).
Therefore, whether the circuit court erroneously exercised its
discretion in suppressing Popenhagen's bank records initially turns on whether a
Wisconsin appellate decision or some provision of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 specifically
authorizes suppression; and if so, whether the circuit court gave a reasoned
explanation for its decision. Clark,
179
¶179 The first part of the resolution of this
question rests with the interpretation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135. Statutory interpretation commences with the
language of the statute, as it is our obligation to determine what the
legislature meant by the statute it enacted.
State ex rel. Kalal v. Circuit Court for Dane County, 2004 WI 58,
¶45, 271 Wis. 2d 633, 681 N.W.2d 110.
We assume that the legislative meaning is expressed in the words
chosen.
¶180 Wisconsin Stat. § 968.135 provides:
Subpoena for documents. Upon the request of the attorney general or a district attorney and upon a showing of probable cause under s. 968.12, a court shall issue a subpoena requiring the production of documents, as specified in s. 968.13(2). The documents shall be returnable to the court which issued the subpoena. Motions to the court, including, but not limited to, motions to quash or limit the subpoena, shall be addressed to the court which issued the subpoena. Any person who unlawfully refuses to produce the documents may be compelled to do so as provided in ch. 785. This section does not limit or affect any other subpoena authority provided by law.
¶181 Wisconsin Stat. § 968.135 plainly provides for review of subpoenas to produce documents issued under its authority. It is silent in regard to verbal statements. Accordingly, the statute does not regulate the production of verbal statements.
¶182 The statute specifies two particular types of motions: to "quash"[70] and to "limit." It also includes the phrase, "including, but not limited to," which unambiguously directs that motions to quash or to limit do not constitute the universe of motions that are appropriately brought under Wis. Stat. § 968.135. However, that same phrase creates an ambiguity about what those unspecified motions may be.[71]
¶183 Both specified motions under Wis. Stat. § 968.135 appear to mean that the target of the subpoena's obligation to provide the documents requested may be reduced, prior to their production. For example, a motion to "quash," if granted, will remove the obligation of the target of the subpoena to provide the documents sought. A motion to "limit" may narrow the scope of the subpoena and thereby limit the target's obligation to produce some, but not all, of the documents.
¶184 Furthermore,
Wis. Stat. § 968.135 is silent in regard to what should occur if records
outside the scope of the subpoena are produced, if privileged documents are
produced or if the subpoena itself is defective, as the circuit court found
here. State v. Swift, 173
¶185 The majority opinion observes the two statutory examples of motions that may be brought under Wis. Stat. § 968.135 and then presents a lengthy discourse on the doctrine of ejusdem generis.[72] Thereafter, it concludes, in one sentence, that the circuit court properly granted Popenhagen's motion to suppress the use of her bank records in the State's theft case against her.[73]
¶186 In my view, the majority opinion errs in its statutory construction for at least two reasons: (1) it overlooks the language chosen by the legislature in other laws that have authorized precluding the use of improperly obtained evidence at trial; and (2) it misperceives the nature of a Wis. Stat. § 968.135 subpoena, which does not authorize either a search or a seizure.
¶187 To illustrate the first point, I contrast
¶188 Second,
¶189 Moreover, Wis. Stat. § 968.30(9)(a)
is not the only statute in which the legislature meant to place limits on the
admission of evidence obtained in violation of a statute.
¶190 Accordingly,
I conclude that when the legislature intended to authorize suppression as a
remedy for non-compliance with a statute, it specifically stated that
"suppression" was the remedy for that statutory violation. See State v. Christensen, 2007
WI App 170, ¶17, 304 Wis. 2d 147, 737 N.W.2d 38 (interpreting Wis. Stat.
§ 968.30(9)(a) as providing suppression for communications improperly
intercepted). In addition, in the
statutes where the legislature authorized such a remedy, constitutional rights
underlie the statutes. Therefore, I
conclude that the legislature did not authorize the courts to suppress evidence
that is obtained in violation of Wis. Stat. § 968.135.
¶191 In
sum, because more than 20 years of precedent of the appellate courts of this
state have required that the statute specifically authorize suppression as a
remedy for a statutory violation before suppression may be employed, and
because the legislature has not done so here, I conclude that the circuit court
erroneously exercised its discretion when it suppressed Popenhagen's bank
records based on the circuit court's failure to find probable cause to issue
the subpoena. As I have explained above,
the majority opinion's analysis of the issue is not well reasoned; it ignores the
procedures that occurred before the trial court in
3. Incriminating statements
¶192 Wisconsin Stat. § 968.135 is directed to documents. Verbal statements are not mentioned in the statute. Accordingly, the target of the subpoena has no obligation to produce verbal statements. Therefore, a motion to "quash" and a motion to "limit" brought under the provisions of § 968.135 could not affect a verbal statement. Those motions affect only the scope of the production of documents. However, the majority opinion upholds the circuit court's suppression of Popenhagen's incriminating statements, as well as the suppression of her bank records.[74]
¶193 Because Popenhagen's incriminating statements were acquired
indirectly as a result of the subpoena for her bank records, Popenhagen's
statements constitute "derivative evidence." State v. Gums, 69
¶194 Popenhagen does not argue that this derivative evidence should be suppressed because Wis. Stat. § 968.135 was violated. Rather, she argues that suppression is warranted because bank records are protected under the state and federal constitutions. Therefore, in order to have the authority to suppress Popenhagen's statements, we would be required to engraft the constitutional doctrine, "fruit of the poisonous tree," onto a statutory violation.
¶195 The majority opinion does not address Popenhagen's constitutional argument. Instead, it creates an argument that no party made, and then it decides the issue it created by concluding that Wis. Stat. § 968.135 provides for the suppression of derivative evidence.[75] The majority opinion cites no precedent for its conclusion. Indeed, there is no precedent for such a decision. To the contrary, there is 20 years of precedent against it, which the majority opinion discards without any reasoned discussion of why such a drastic step is necessary.
¶196 To amplify the misguided nature of the majority's analysis, it is necessary to provide a brief sketch of the standard application of the exclusionary rule.
¶197 The exclusionary rule may operate to suppress derivative evidence,
such as Popenhagen's statements, when a constitutional violation has occurred
"under certain circumstances, via the fruit of the poisonous tree
doctrine, if such evidence is obtained 'by exploitation of . . .
illegality.'" State v. Knapp,
2005 WI 127, ¶24, 285
¶198 In Knapp II, we excluded certain evidence based on police
misconduct. Knapp II, 285
¶199 Even when a constitutional right has been affected, suppression of
derivative evidence is not automatically accorded.
¶200 No police misconduct is even alleged to have occurred here. Instead, all agree that an officer involved
in the investigation of the theft from Save-More had prepared a probable cause
affidavit, but apparently, it did not reach the circuit court. Judge Mangerson expressed surprise and dismay
that his signature was affixed to a subpoena that did not comport with
¶201 Accordingly, it is an enormous expansion of the rights of a
defendant in a criminal case to engraft the fruit of the poisonous tree
doctrine onto a statutory violation where no constitutional right was also at
issue and no police misconduct caused the violation. However, that is exactly what the majority
opinion does.[77] The majority opinion is careful not to use
the terminology associated with suppression of derivative evidence that arises
from a constitutional violation, "the fruit of the poisonous tree,"
because it does not address a constitutional violation. However, the majority opinion achieves an end
result that heretofore could be accomplished only when a constitutional
violation had occurred or a statute specifically authorized suppression of
derivative evidence, as Wis. Stat. § 968.30(9)(a)
does. By not naming the doctrine that it
is actually applying, the majority opinion reminds me of a prior statement of
Chief Justice Abrahamson: "Like any
illusionist's magical sleight of hand, the majority opinion is mystifying and
puzzling, but ultimately not what it appears." State v. Sykes, 2005 WI 48, ¶48, 279
¶202 Moreover, the inadvertent nature of the error committed here
disposes of another of Popenhagen's arguments.
She contends the lack of a finding of probable cause constitutes an abuse
of process that demands suppression of her statements. Popenhagen is incorrect. Judge Mangerson's and Judge Kinney's
unintentional errors lead to the conclusion that there is "nothing in the
record to suggest that the judges[s] did not abide by [their respective]
responsibilities in acting as . . . neutral and detached
magistrate[s]." Noble, 253
¶203 Therefore, I conclude that Popenhagen's incriminating statements made to Oneida police officers after she was confronted with her bank records cannot be suppressed under the authority granted in Wis. Stat. § 968.135 because: (1) § 968.135, by its clear, unambiguous terms, applies only to documents; it has no application to verbal statements; (2) the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine may be applied only to constitutional violations; and (3) no abuse of process occurred.
B.
¶204 One of the legal premises upon which the
circuit court based its decision to suppress was its conclusion that Popenhagen
had a constitutionally protected right of privacy in her bank records. The Fourth Amendment protects persons from
unreasonable searches of their "persons, houses, papers, and effects
. . . ."[78] U.S. Const. amend. IV. The United States Supreme Court held in Miller
that the Fourth Amendment does not afford a right of privacy in a person's bank
records.
¶205 Miller emphasized that bank records are
not the type of "papers" to which the Fourth Amendment refers. Miller, 425
are not confidential communications but [may be] negotiable instruments to be used in commercial transactions. [Records such as] financial statements and deposit slips[] contain only information voluntarily conveyed to the banks and exposed to their employees in the ordinary course of business. . . . The depositor takes the risk, in revealing [her] affairs to another, that the information will be conveyed by that person to the Government.
¶206 Popenhagen argues that Miller is not
controlling because the enactment of the Right to Financial Privacy Act
(Financial Privacy Act), 12 U.S.C. § 3401, et seq., effectively overruled
it and, therefore, the Financial Privacy Act entitles citizens to a privacy
interest in their bank records.
Accordingly, Popenhagen argues that operation of the Financial Privacy
Act mandates that her bank records and her inculpatory statements be excluded
from evidence. Popenhagen is mistaken.
¶207 The Financial Privacy Act was indeed passed in
response to Miller, but it does not render Miller any less robust
in the present context. While the
Financial Privacy Act prescribes the means by which bank records may be
obtained by a "Government authority," it defines Government authority
as an "agency or department of the
¶208 Moreover, the remedy of suppression is
unavailable under the Financial Privacy Act.
See 12 U.S.C. § 3417; see also, United States v.
Daccarett, 6 F.3d 37, 52 (2d Cir. 1993); United States v. Kington,
801 F.2d 733, 737-38 (5th Cir. 1986), cert. denied, 481
C.
¶209 Popenhagen encourages this court to recognize a
right of privacy in bank records under the Wisconsin Constitution. We interpret the Wisconsin Constitution in a
manner that "give[s] effect to the intent of the framers and of the people
who adopted it." Schilling,
278
¶210 The
¶211 However, under our authority to interpret the
Wisconsin Constitution independently from the United States Constitution, we
have not always marched in lockstep with federal jurisprudence. For instance, we recently parted company with
a plurality of the United States Supreme Court[80]
to hold under
¶212 Popenhagen urges this court to exercise its
authority to independently interpret the Wisconsin Constitution and to construe
Article I, Section 11 in a fashion that would depart from Miller to hold
that the Wisconsin Constitution affords a right of privacy in one's bank
records. As support for her argument,
Popenhagen points out that several states (
¶213
¶214 While we retain the authority to interpret our
state constitution independently from the United States Constitution, I would
decline to do so here. I observe
distinctions between our Article I, Section 8 jurisprudence and our Article I,
Section 11 jurisprudence, and I am unpersuaded by Thompson, DiGiacomo,
and DeJohn.
¶215 First, our jurisprudence demonstrates that this
court has construed Article I, Section 11 consistently with the Fourth
Amendment. In the nearly 160 years that
Article I, Section 11 has graced our state constitution, I located only one
instance in which this court has interpreted that provision differently from
the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Fourth Amendment. That case presented the question of whether,
and to what extent,
¶216 Second, I would decline to adopt the reasoning
of Thompson, DiGiacomo, and DeJohn, or the substantive
interpretations these courts applied to their respective state
constitutions. Those courts declined to
follow Miller primarily because they found the reasoning of Justice
Brennan's Miller dissent more persuasive than the reasoning offered by
the Miller majority. See, e.g.,
DeJohn, 403 A.2d at 1290; Miller, 425
¶217 In addition, when the language of the Wisconsin
Constitution closely matches that of the United States Constitution, without
clear expression from the framers of our state constitution indicating an
intent to provide greater protections than those provided under the United
States Constitution, we normally interpret the state constitution in accord
with the U.S. Supreme Court's interpretation of the federal Constitution. See, e.g., State v. Agnello,
226 Wis. 2d 164, 180-81, 593 N.W.2d 427 (1999) (concluding that where
"the language of the provision in the state constitution is 'virtually
identical' to that of the federal provision or where no difference in intent is
discernible, Wisconsin courts have normally construed the state constitution
consistent with the United States Supreme Court's construction of the federal
[C]onstitution."). Accordingly,
because the language of Article I, Section 11 almost identically mirrors the
language of the Fourth Amendment, and the framers of the Wisconsin Constitution
declared no intention that Article I, Section 11 should be interpreted more
broadly than the Fourth Amendment, I would continue our practice of
interpreting Article I, Section 11 in accord with the Fourth Amendment.
¶218 The interests of consistency, uniformity, and
predictability are well-served by continuing to interpret Article I, Section 11
in conformity with the Fourth Amendment.
Such an approach "reduces to a minimum the confusion and
uncertainty under which the police must operate." State v. Fry, 131
III. CONCLUSION
¶219 I
conclude that controlling precedent, as established more than 20 years ago by
the appellate courts of this state, precludes suppressing Popenhagen's bank
records and her subsequent incriminating statements. I reach this conclusion because: (1) Wis. Stat. § 968.135 does not
authorize the suppression of Popenhagen's bank records as a remedy for the
circuit court's failure to find probable cause that the bank records were
linked to the commission of a crime; and (2) Popenhagen has no privacy right in
her bank records under either the Fourth Amendment of the United States
Constitution or Article I, Section 11 of the Wisconsin Constitution.
¶220 Accordingly, I would affirm the court of appeals decision that overturned the circuit court's suppression of evidence, and I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion that upholds suppression of Popenhagen's bank records and her subsequent incriminating statements.
[1] State v. Popenhagen,
2007 WI App 16, 298
[2] All subsequent references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to the 2005-06 version unless otherwise indicated.
[3] The Fourth Amendment of the
United States Constitution provides in full:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
[4] Article I, Section 11 provides in full:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated; and no warrant shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.
[5] The subpoenas in the present case were issued under Wis. Stat. § 885.01, which authorizes subpoenas to be signed and issued by a circuit court judge. Section 805.07 authorizes a subpoena to be issued and signed by an attorney of record. The subpoenas in the present case were not signed by an attorney of record.
[6]
[7] The State's brief before this court asserts that the prosecuting attorney conceded at circuit court that the office used the wrong form. State's brief at 5-6.
[8] The other three issues relate to the defendant's state constitutional right to an expectation of privacy in the bank records; the defendant's Fourth Amendment right to an expectation of privacy in the bank records; and the court's inherent power to order suppression of evidence.
[9] Wisconsin Stat. § (Rule) 809.62(6) provides that if a petition for review is granted, the petitioner cannot raise or argue issues not set forth in the petition unless ordered otherwise by this court. The court has not ordered that any other issue be argued.
[10] Justice Prosser's concurrence, ¶¶119, 126, concludes that suppression of both the bank documents and the incriminating statements was proper because Wis. Stat. § 968.22, governing deficiencies in search warrants, affords the circuit court discretion to suppress evidence obtained in violation of a subpoena statute when such violation is nontechnical or affects the defendant's substantial rights. Justice Ziegler's concurrence/dissent, ¶¶133, 136, concludes that suppression of the bank documents (but not the incriminating statements) was proper because even when the remedy of suppression is not authorized by any statute, the circuit court has inherent authority to suppress evidence obtained pursuant to a defective subpoena. Because we conclude that suppression of both the bank documents and the incriminating statements was proper under Wis. Stat. § 968.135, we need not address the question whether suppression of evidence obtained by a defective subpoena falls within Wis. Stat. § 968.22 governing defective search warrants; or within the circuit court's inherent authority; or within Wis. Stat. § 805.18(1) requiring a court to disregard any error or defect in proceedings that does not affect the substantial rights of the adverse party.
[11] Zellner v. Cedarburg Sch.
Dist., 2007 WI 53, ¶13, 300
[12] Vill. of Slinger v. City of Hartford, 2002 WI App 187, ¶9, 256 Wis. 2d 859, 650 N.W.2d 81 (citing City of Madison v. Town of Fitchburg, 112 Wis. 2d 224, 228, 332 N.W.2d 782 (1983)).
[13] Vill. of Slinger,
256
[14] Bence v. City of
[15] Bill Drafting File on 1979
S.B. 221, available at Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau,
[16] See State v. Eichman,
155
[17] State v. Drew, 2007 WI App 213, ¶11, 305 Wis. 2d 641, 740 N.W.2d 404 (in considering a motion to suppress, a reviewing court accepts the circuit court's findings of fact unless clearly erroneous and independently decides the correct application of constitutional principles to those facts).
[18] Marquette S. v. Bobby G.,
2007 WI 77, ¶42, 301
The decision whether to admit or exclude evidence
based on a violation of evidentiary rules ordinarily lies within the circuit
court's discretion. Leitinger v. DBart, Inc., 2007 WI 84, ¶18, 302
[19]
[20]
The
Wisconsin Bill Drafting Manual 2006-2007 explains that using the phrase
"but is not limited to" along with the word "includes" is
redundant.
[21]
[22] State v. Campbell,
102
[23] State v. James P., 2005
WI 80, ¶26, 281
This
limited meaning of the word "includes" was reached by the court's
using the maxim of statutory interpretation expressio unius est exclusio
alterius ("the express mention of one matter excludes other similar
matters not mentioned"). See
FAS, LLC v. Town of Bass Lake, 2007 WI 73, ¶27, 301
Wis. 2d 321, 733 N.W.2d 287.
The
maxim expressio unius est exclusio alterius ordinarily applies when a
statute lists, for example, persons, things, or forms of conduct without any
general word preceding or following the listing. According to the maxim, the inference is that
all omissions from the listing are excluded from application of the
statute. 2A Norman J. Singer & J.D.
Shambie Singer, Statutes and Statutory Construction (7th ed. 2007)
§ 47:23, at 375-77.
Although
the maxim expressio unius est exclusio alterius does not by its terms
apply to Wis. Stat. § 968.135, because the statute has only an
enumeration, not general language, the Wisconsin Bill Drafting Manual explains
that our court has nevertheless applied the maxim of expressio unius to
statutory language using the word "includes," when some factual
evidence exists that the legislature intended to limit application of the
statute to those items enumerated.
For
additional cases considering the maxim expressio unius est exclusio alterius,
see, e.g., State v. Delaney, 2003 WI 9, ¶¶22-23, 259
Wis. 2d 77, 658 N.W.2d 416; State ex rel. Harris v. Larson,
64
The cases sometimes refer to this "exclusio" maxim
as inclusio unius est exclusio alterius. See, e.g., Koestler v.
Pollard, 162
[24] Karl H. Llewellyn, Remarks on the Theory of Appellate Decision and the Rules or Canons About How Statutes are to be Construed, 3 Vand. L. Rev. 395, 405 (1950).
When it adequately appears that the general words are
not used in a restricted sense suggested by the rule ejusdem generis,
the legislature's will that the general words are to be given a broad meaning
will be given effect. State v.
Campbell, 102
When no inconsistency exists between specifically named particular words and the general statutory language or when the enumeration does not suggest a class, the maxim of ejusdem generis does not apply. 2A Singer & Singer, supra note 23, § 47:17, at 380, 387-89.
[25] State v. Engler, 80
The
maxim ejusdem generis is an attempt to reconcile the specific and the
general by treating the particular words as indicating the class and the
general words as extending the provisions to everything embraced in that class,
though not specifically named by the particular words. Ejusdem generis is a common drafting
technique to avoid spelling out in detail every contingency in which the
statute could apply.
For
additional cases considering the maxim ejusdem generis, see, e.g.,
State v. Peters, 2003 WI 88, ¶¶16-23, 25, 27-34, 263
Wis. 2d 475, 665 N.W.2d 171; State v. Campbell, 102
Wis. 2d 243, 246-47, 306 N.W.2d 272 (Ct. App. 1981).
The
maxim ejusdem generis is a variation of the maxim noscitur a sociis. The maxim noscitur a sociis means that
words may be defined by accompanying words, that is, that the meaning of
doubtful words may be determined by reference to their relationship with other
associated words or phrases.
[26] Engler, 80
[27]
[28]
[29] The dissent in State
ex rel.
[30] Arnold, 51
[31] State ex rel.
Peckham v. Krenke, 229
[32] Peckham was so
interpreted in State v. Wallace, 2002 WI App 61, ¶25, 251
[33] Peckham v. Krenke, 229
[34] State v. Verkuylen, 120
[35] Verkuylen, 120
[36] State v. Repenshek,
2004 WI App 229, ¶¶23-24,
277 Wis. 2d 780, 691 N.W.2d 369; State v. Keith, 2003 WI App 47, ¶8, 260
[37] State v. Cash,
2004 WI App 63, ¶30, 271
[38] See, e.g., State
v. Piddington, 2001 WI 24, ¶52,
241
The
State recognizes that in two John Doe cases this court indicated that
suppression of evidence could be available as a remedy for "clear
abuse" of the John Doe statutory process.
[39]
[40] See Wenke v.
Gehl Co., 2004 WI 103, ¶21,
274
[41] Had the defendant merely been told that the police had her bank documents, she might have questioned this assertion and doubted the police's claim in light of the numerous lengthy documents she probably had received (as we all have) from banks and other institutions advising that privacy interests are protected by law.
[42] See Wenke,
274
[43] Nardone v.
[44]
[45]
[46]
Search warrant. (1) Description and issuance. A search warrant is an order signed by a judge directing a law enforcement officer to conduct a search of a designated person, a designated object or a designated place for the purpose of seizing designated property or kinds of property. A judge shall issue a search warrant if probable cause is shown.
(2) Warrant upon affidavit. A search warrant may be based upon sworn complaint or affidavit, or testimony recorded by a phonographic reporter or under sub. (3)(d), showing probable cause therefor. The complaint, affidavit or testimony may be upon information and belief.
[47] Not only was no probable cause found prior to the subpoenas being issued, but no subsequent opportunity existed for a judicial officer to correct this problem. In this case, Judge Kinney signed the civil subpoena that produced the bank records from F&M Bank and used in eliciting incriminating statements from the defendant. No probable cause affidavit was attached to that subpoena. Judge Mangerson presided over the subsequent suppression hearing. However, because Judge Mangerson did not sign the subpoena at issue and no probable cause affidavit was provided to him, Judge Mangerson could not make a finding of probable cause or correct the record as to why the subpoena was issued. There is nothing in the record to indicate that the criminal process was utilized.
[48] Although inherent authority was not utilized by the circuit court in this case, we should remand with directions that the circuit court consider utilizing its inherent authority.
[49] Perhaps the argument in favor
of allowing the State to use civil subpoena statutes arises out of Wis. Stat. § 972.11(1),
which makes the rules of civil actions applicable to all criminal
proceedings. However, this is
impermissible when the "context of a section or rule manifestly requires a
different construction."
[50] Section
24.11 of
The "subpoena
power" is the authority to require "the attendance of any witness,
residing or being in any part of this state, to testify in any matter or cause
pending or triable. . . ." Compelling a witness to appear in a
The Wisconsin attorney general and district attorneys, or persons acting in their stead, may also statutorily sign and issue subpoenas to compel the appearance of witnesses in any court or before any magistrate, from any part of the state, on behalf of the state. Similarly, under the Children's Code, a juvenile who is alleged to have performed a delinquent act must be informed by the intake worker that the juvenile has a "right to present and subpoena witnesses."
9 Christine M. Wiseman, Nicholas L. Chiarkas, & Daniel D. Blinka, Criminal Practice and Procedure § 24.11 (1996) (internal footnotes omitted).
[51] See 9 Wiseman et al., supra, § 24.16.
[52] See 9 Wiseman et al., supra, § 24.11, n.6 (stating that "[i]n civil cases, attorneys have subpoena power under Wis. Stat. § 805.07").
[53] See Justice Roggensack's dissent, ¶165.
[54] See City of Sun Prairie v. Davis, 226 Wis. 2d 738, 749-50, 595 N.W.2d 635 (1999) (citing to a number of cases and stating "the court exercises inherent authority i[n] ensuring that the court functions efficiently and effectively to provide the fair administration of justice"); State v. Holmes, 106 Wis. 2d 31, 44, 315 N.W.2d 703 (1982) (discussing inherent powers, which are "those powers which must necessarily be used by the various departments of government in order that they may efficiently perform the functions imposed upon them by the people"). See, e.g., Marth v. Hevier, No. 81-1639, unpublished slip op. at 2 (Wis. Ct. App. Nov. 10, 1982) (as an example of the trial court quashing a subpoena issued under Wis. Stat. § 805.07 because it was defective as to form since it was directed to a corporation rather than an individual); In re Grand Jury Proceedings of June 16, 1981, 519 F.Supp. 791, 795 (E.D. Wis. 1981) (exercising the "inherent powers th[e] court possesses to supervise the grand jury and quash th[e] subpoena"); People v. Hart, 552 N.E.2d 1, 4 (Ill. App. Ct. 1990) (allowing the trial court to quash a subpoena that was defective because it allowed documents to be returned directly to the district attorney rather than through the court); James v. Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Inc., 206 F.R.D. 15, 18 (D.D.C. 2002) (allowing trial court to quash service of process because the defendant served the wrong person).
[55] See, e.g., Wis.
Stat. § 968.30(9)(a). It provides
in part:
Any aggrieved person . . . may move before the trial court or the court granting the original warrant to suppress the contents of any intercepted wire, electronic or oral communication . . . .
[56] See State ex rel. Kalal v. Circuit Court for Dane County, 2004 WI 58, ¶39, 271 Wis. 2d 633, 681 N.W.2d 110 (citing to the United States Supreme Court, Connecticut Nat'l Bank v. Germain, 503 U.S. 249, 253-54 (1992), asserting that "[w]e have stated time and again that courts must presume that a legislature says in a statute what it means and means in a statute what it says there"); 2A Norman J. Singer & J.D. Shambie Singer, Statutes and Statutory Construction (7th ed. 2007) (§ 46.3, "Expressed intent," stating "[w]hat a legislature says in the text of a statute is considered the best evidence of the legislative intent or will"; § 46.6, "Each word given effect," stating "it is also the case that every word excluded from a statute must be presumed to have been excluded for a purpose"; § 47.23, "Expressio unius est exclusio alterius," stating "where a form of conduct, . . . there is an inference that all omissions should be understood as exclusions"; § 47.38, "Insertion of words," stating "[i]n construing a statute, it is always safer not to add to or subtract from the language of a statute unless imperatively required to make it a rational statute") (internal footnotes omitted).
[57] See also State v. Yang, 2000 WI App 63, ¶20, 233 Wis. 2d 545, 608 N.W.2d 703 (stating that United States Supreme Court, "[i]n Elstad, the Court examined the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine and determined that it only applies to a constitutional violation"); State v. Noble, 2002 WI 64, ¶¶7, 13, 29-31, 253 Wis. 2d 206, 646 N.W.2d 38; but see Muetze v. State, 73 Wis. 2d 117, 134-35, 243 N.W.2d 393 (1976) (applying the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine to a statutory privilege violation that led to obtaining a search warrant without probable cause once the privileged information was excluded). Muetze, however, is distinguishable from the case at hand because the statutory violation here did not directly lead to a constitutional violation.
[58]
[59] All further references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to the 2005-06 version unless otherwise indicated.
[60] Circuit court Judges Robert Kinney
and Mark Mangerson of
[61] There is no transcript in the record of precisely what Popenhagen said; her statements are recounted in summary fashion in the September 19, 2004 police report prepared by Officer Todd G. Hanson and provided in the record. Officer Hanson states in that report that, upon being confronted with her bank records, Popenhagen explained that "she didn't know why she did this" and that "she always thought she might get caught." According to Officer Hanson's report, Popenhagen further stated that "she used some of the money to pay the mortgage and to pay on some judgments against her."
[62] Majority op., ¶¶4-5.
[63]
[64] Majority op., ¶¶58–71. In addition, Popenhagen did not request the sweeping change in the law that the majority opinion effects. Nevertheless, the majority opinion uses this case as a vehicle to effect an enormous expansion of the rights of defendants in criminal cases at the expense of victims of crimes, where the failure to follow a statute was simply an error of law by a circuit court judge and no police misconduct is alleged to have occurred.
[65] State ex rel.
[66] Majority op., ¶¶58, 63, 67.
[67] The same substantive
provision was in existence in 1971 when
[68] Majority op., ¶61.
[69]
[70] Ordinarily, motions to quash must be made before the time specified in the subpoena for compliance. See, e.g., Fed. R. Civ. P. 45; see also, 9A Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 2458 (3d ed. 2008).
[71] Because the statute is ambiguous, I may turn to "interpretive resources outside the statutory text" for guidance. State ex rel. Kalal v. Circuit Court for Dane County, 2004 WI 58, ¶50, 271 Wis. 2d 633, 681 N.W.2d 110. It is customary to consult legislative history first. However, the legislative history of Wis. Stat. § 968.135 is sparse and of no avail in interpreting the statute.
[72] Majority op., ¶¶46-55.
[73]
[74] Majority op., ¶91.
[75]
[76] State v. Knapp, 2005 WI 127, 285 Wis. 2d 86, 700 N.W.2d 899 (hereinafter referred to as Knapp II), is a second decision by this court, made after remand from the United States Supreme Court after it issued United States v. Patane, 542 U.S. 630 (2004).
[77] Majority op., ¶81-91.
[78] The Fourth Amendment of the United
States Constitution provides in full:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
[79] Article I, Section 11 of the
Wisconsin Constitution provides:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated; and no warrant shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.
[80] Patane, 542
[81] Miranda v.
[82] The
California Supreme Court in Burrows v. Superior Court, 529 P.2d 590 (
The Florida Supreme Court's decision in Winfield v.
Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, 477 So. 2d 544 (
Although the New Jersey Supreme Court
expressly held for the first time in 2005 that its state constitution provides
an expectation of privacy in bank records, in so holding, it observed that
[83] My conclusion is in accord with eight of the other states that have ruled on the issue. State v. Schultz, 850 P.2d 818 (Kan. 1993); Norkin v. Hoey, 586 N.Y.S.2d 926 (N.Y. App. Div. 1992); State v. Klattenhoff, 801 P.2d 548 (Haw. 1990); State v. Union State Bank, 267 N.W.2d 777 (N.D. 1978); State v. Fredette, 411 A.2d 65 (Me. 1979); State v. Melvin, 357 S.E.2d 379 (N.C. Ct. App. 1987); Cox v. State, 392 N.E.2d 496 (Ind. Ct. App. 1979).
Moreover, though not determinative, it is instructive that the Wisconsin Legislature has been aware of Miller's holding for 31 years and State v. Swift, 173 Wis. 2d 870, 496 N.W.2d 713 (Ct. App. 1993) for more than 14 years; yet, it has taken no action to amend the Wisconsin Constitution.